Why DHA is important in Joint Supplements for Horses
What is DHA and why is DHA important?
Our consultant nutritionist for Equell has written a great article on the importance of Omega 3's and specifically DHA within joint supplements for horses. This ingredient packs a powerful punch and it is important to not be hoodwinked by supplement claims on Omega 3's for joint health unless they are using the only proven form - DHA or EPA.
What’s in a name?
by Jennifer Little
Equine Nutritionist - RNutr
When trying to select feeds for our horses, deciphering what the ingredients are (as listed in the composition) can sometimes feel like a bit of a mine field. I have heard many times the misconception that if an ingredient is hard to pronounce or is one that you may not have heard of, then it must be bad. This is not necessarily the case, and in many cases such an ingredient could be exactly what you are looking for. This article will hopefully demonstrate this by exploring one such preferable inclusion within the best equine joint supplements.
Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA for short. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid, which produces reduced levels of inflammatory reactions (Geor et al 2013). But why is this important? Owners of harder working horses are generally more inclined to want to ensure that they are supporting their horses’ joints (Jackson 2025). These are the same horses that due to their work levels are more likely to require higher inclusions of hard feeds, which often results in higher intakes of omega-6 fatty acids and lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids (Geor et al 2013). Higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratios have been shown to increase inflammatory responses, such inflammatory responses are the pathway of osteoarthritis (OA). The supplementation of DHA has been shown to down regulate this inflammatory process (Calder 2017).
How to Improve Joint Mobility in Horses
Supplementation of DHA in humans and dogs with OA has resulted in decreased inflammation and improvements in clinical signs. In horse’s, supplementation of 3g DHA per day, has been shown to integrate this anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid into a horse’s joints. Contributing to improved lubrication and reduced inflammatory status. This has the potential to resolve inflammatory pathways involved in horses with arthritis and improve joint function (Christmann et al 2021) - great news for horses with stiff joints!
There is a solid foundation behind the benefits of supplementing horses with DHA, which is important for joint health and for supporting overall health & well-being. Equell use algae-derived DHA in our joint supplement Ultraflex.
==========
References
Christmann, U. et al. Dynamics of DHA and EPA supplementation: incorporation into equine plasma, synovial fluid, and surfactant glycerophosphocholines. Metabolomics, [s. l.], v. 17, n. 5, p. 1–10, 2021. Dynamics of DHA and EPA supplementation: incorporation into equine plasma, synovial fluid, and surfactant glycerophosphocholines - PubMed
Calder, P.C 2017Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man. Biochemical Society Transactions, 45, 1105-1115
Geor, R.J., Harris, P.J., Coenen, M. Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition. Saunders 2013 p. 143-144
JACKSON, A. The factors that influence owners’ choices to use an oral joint supplement within their show jumping horse’s diet. [s. l.], 2022.
